In spring training games between NL teams the home team gets to decide if they use the designated hitter or let the pitchers hit. Usually it’s not a big deal, but apparently today’s Reds-Diamondbacks game was different.

Reds manager Dusty Baker wanted to use the DH because Shin-Soo Choo has a sore quadriceps and they still wanted to get him some at-bats. Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson didn’t want to use the DH because starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy has spent his whole career in the AL and they want him to hit a little.

Gibson put his foot down, which led to the Reds keeping Choo out of the lineup and, according to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com, the two managers had a “testy exchange at home plate” in which Gibson offered his hand and “Baker refused to shake it.”

The point isn’t defending Dusty, the point is Kirk Gibson could irritate the Dalai Lama.

Mark Prior’s career has nothing to do with this.

Bob - Mar 4, 2013 at 9:06 PM

Actually it’s pretty hard to blame Kirk — it’s so easy to be irritated by Dusty Baker, even without extra provocation.

buddaley - Mar 4, 2013 at 4:07 PM

But if Gibson can still have his pitcher hit, regardless of whether Baker has a DH, why should he care? Is it that important to him not to let the other team have an edge in spring training games? Does he want his pitchers to work on their strategies for getting pitchers out? What exactly is his reason?

Or do both teams have to use the DH if it is allowed? I don’t think they do.

I completely agree. I don’t understand why Gibson wouldn’t agree to a DH–it’s just a spring training game after all–and just bat his pitcher. It’s definitely allowed.

Chris Fiorentino - Mar 4, 2013 at 4:40 PM

It’s a stupid rule and they should just do away with it. Why not just have the DH for all spring training games no matter who is home. And if you want to bat your pitcher, then it is your choice. Dumb rule that baseball may end up changing next year because of stupid spats like this.

Gator, I’ll consider the DH disgrace argument when the NL takes pitchers’ batting seriously. They obviously don’t. Pitchers routinely get told not to run hard down to first, and frequently they can’t even bunt properly.

historiophiliac - Mar 4, 2013 at 5:49 PM

Gator, you and Mrs. Verlander are the only ones who want to see JV do anything but throw. And, I’d be really mad if he hurt his arm sliding or something.

geoknows - Mar 4, 2013 at 5:58 PM

I’m old enough – unfortunately – to remember when the DH was instituted. At the time, the rule specifically said that teams could CHOOSE to use a DH instead of having the pitcher hit. The implication was always that they didn’t HAVE to. Unless the wording of the rule has changed, there is absolutely no reason that they couldn’t have agreed to allow DHs, then the DBacks go ahead and have McCarthy hit for himself.

Yes, that is definitely the way to go. When I think it might be too subtle, though, I do try to help out with the indicator. Sometimes people miss the jokes too…but I don’t bother to explain those. Missed jokes you just walk away from.

Its funny because McCarthy pitched 3 innings and managed a single at bat. If Choo would have DH’ed he would likely have had 2 or 3 at bats. I fully expect Dusty to have his guys throw at the D’backs if they ever meet again. Gibby and Baker is a lot grit and guts colliding.

Sounds like GIbson could have allowed it since it isn’t an actual competitive game, and no one would have cared. Instead, he refused to allow it just to be a big, strutting rooster. Who cares if the Reds want to DH anyway?

Dusty gets some deserved criticism for his player usage, rotations and substitutions, but people who think he doesn’t know the game are wrong. He has been around the game his whole life and I’d bet he knew wtf he was doing here.

Since it’s not an actual competitive game why not let them field 5 infielders and 10 outfielders at the same time? We could have 3 pitchers strike a guy out on 1 swing of the bat, or maybe give up 3 homeruns in 1 AB! We could let squirrles pinch run or have a trash can play 1st base. Why not let Shin So Choo be the umpire, then he doesn’t have to run at all and can still evaluate live pitching?